Summary: VFMA Risk Management Guide for accredited Victorian farmers’ markets as essential food markets
Government directives, reviewed 03/08/20
- Victoria’s Restriction Levels
- Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 7)
- Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 5)
- Directions - Restricted activity (No 16)
- Directions - Stay Safe (No 9)
Key changes:
- Stage 4 restrictions are in place across metropolitan Melbourne.
- From 11:59pm on 5 August, stage three restrictions apply throughout regional Victoria [including Mitchell Shire].
Relevant information for markets and traders 03/08/20
In all areas:
- Everyone must wear a face covering when leaving home, except where exemptions exist (refer to Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 7) or Stay Safe Directions (No 9) for details).
- People are allowed to travel for work, into, through and out of the Restricted areas
- The 5km travel restriction does not apply to those travelling for work, but that travel mustn’t be ‘unreasonable’
- Those travelling out of the Restricted Area [Melbourne] for work are still required to follow all directions for the Restricted Areas
- (ref: Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas)(No 7))
In restricted areas:
• A market stall (whether indoor or outdoor) in a Restricted Area may only operate that stall if its predominant business is the provision of food and drink for consumption off the premises of the market.
• A market is only permitted to consist of market stalls that provide food and drink for consumption off the premises of the market.
Outside restricted areas:
• Indoor and outdoor market stalls for both food and non-food are permitted to trade.
Anyone feeling unwell must not attend farmers’ markets
Market organisers, stallholders and shoppers should familiarise themselves with the latest food safety and coronavirus management guidelines before attending markets.
Guidelines for Farmers’ Market Organisers
Controlling patronage numbers and stall density
1. Market organisers should be able to count & control the number of patrons on site at any time to ensure the current density quotient requirement of 4 square metres per person is being met.
Ensuring social distancing
2. Market managers should provide clear signage, ground markings and announcements to enforce social distancing of 1.5 metres
3. Market managers should eliminate entertainment and gathering points to limit density and exposure times.
Reducing transmission risks
4. Market managers should ensure they are compliant with current cleaning requirements
5. Market managers should ensure accessible hand washing and/or sanitising facilities are provided around the market to stallholders and shoppers
6. Where possible, market managers should not allow shoppers to enter the market before the opening time
Guidelines for Farmers’ Market Stallholders
Ensuring social distancing
7. Stallholders should arrive with enough time to set up the stall with consideration for social distancing layout
8. Stallholders should remind their customers about social distancing
9. Stalls with multiple staff members should also maintain social distancing in accordance with State guidelines
10. Stallholders should clearly label produce and prices for shoppers to be able to see to minimise crowding around the stall
Reducing transmission risks
11. Stallholders should have hand sanitiser or adequate hand wash facilities clearly accessible
12. Where possible, stallholders should ensure they are set-up to take card payments
13. Where possible, stallholders should avoid handling cash
14. Ready-to-eat stalls may only provide take-away food
15. Stallholders should advise customers that, to minimise transmission risks, they may not handle produce